Bhubaneswar: A trial court in the eastern Indian state of Odisha has given life term to a Maoist woman and a government employee for abducting a district magistrate more than five years ago.
The Malkangiri Additional District and Sessions judge on May 24 awarded life sentence to Tapan Shah, a village-level worker, and Maoist M Divya for their role in the collector’s abduction. Shah is a government employee.
The court, however, acquitted another accused Ghasiram Pangi for lack of evidence. Another woman Maoist, Sevati, who was arrested in the same case, is still undergoing trial.
Vineel Krishna, who was then the collector of erstwhile Malkangiri district, was abducted along with a junior engineer from a secluded area, in February 2011, by the members of Communist Party of India (Maoist) Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee. The two were there as part of a routine visit.
Krishna and the engineer were released after nine days of negotiation and a virtual rebellion by tribals against the Maoists, The Indian Express reported May 25.